Tiny Tuvalu says it treasures "special relationship" with Taiwan

Lai visited Tuvalu last December as part of a tour of Taiwan's Pacific allies, including Palau and the Marshal Islands.

Last year, shortly after Lai won election, Nauru switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei. China says Taiwan is one of its provinces with no right to state-to-state ties, a view Taipei's government hotly disputes.

Taiwan also provided funding, along with Australia, the United States and Japan, to connect Tuvalu for the first time to international telecommunications by a subsea cable.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Stephen Coates)